Charles F. Kaiser, David N. Sattler, Daniel R. Bellack, and Jennifer Dersin (1996).
A conservation of resources approach to a natural disaster: Sense of coherence and
psychological distress.
Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 11, 459-476.
Abstract
This study applied Hobfoll's (1989) Conservation of Resources stress model to examine psychological functioning 1 month following Hurricane Hugo. Undergraduate students (69 men, 124 women) completed the Sense of Coherence Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Multiscore Depression Inventory, Trait Anxiety scale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a questionnaire assessing posttraumatic stress disorder related symptoms, somatic problems, and resource loss. The findings indirectly support the Conservation of Resources stress model. Resource loss and gender were positively associated with psychological distress. Sense of coherence was negatively associated with psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. Resource loss and depression were better predictors of psychological distress than sense of coherence and anxiety. Fifteen percent of the sample met the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder. There was evidence of comorbidity between depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Helping behavior was positively associated with sense of coherence. Implications for disaster intervention programs and future research directions are discussed.